The former California wide receiver might not fill the Chargers' most pressing need, but they couldn't pass on the 6-foot-2, 206-pound playmaker, who sat with his family in Raleigh, N.C., as he was passed on 75 times.

"I was hoping to be drafted sooner," Allen said in a conference call. "I'd been hearing first round, but I dropped down to the third round. I definitely wasn't expected that, but it happened. It is what it is. San Diego picked me up; I'm glad they did. I wouldn't rather be anywhere else."

Allen had 98 catches for 1,343 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore in 2011. His numbers dropped to 61 grabs for 737 yards and six scores in 2012 amid more double coverage, Allen said, while playing only nine games. He missed the final three with a PCL torn in October.

It kept him from running in February at the NFL Combine.

Allen, who ran a 4.71 in the 40-yard dash at his March pro day, characterizes his left knee as at "90 percent" and said he expects to be fully recovered within two weeks, putting him well on track for training camp's July start.

"I don't know if it's luck or what, but we were really excited to get a playmaker like him at that spot," Telesco said. "I saw him live his sophomore year against USC in a game that had a lot of good football players, and he was the best player on the field that day — hands down. That stuff stays in your mind, even two years ago."

Tae Darnell, Allen's agent, has a theory as to why Allen fell.

There was an April report Allen was asked to redo his drug test at the combine because of high water levels found in his sample. The inordinate water amount suggests an attempt to mask a performance-enhancing substance.

"This is one of those times where agents release fallacious information," Darnell said.

Said Telesco: "There was no issue with that drug test at the combine."